What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally breaks down to "them I want to all", where los acts as the direct object pronoun for the group and a todos is used for emphasis.
Which one should you use?
While los quiero a todos is the standard way to express affection, los amo a todos uses a stronger, more intense form of the verb amar which is often reserved for deep romantic love or profound devotion.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Latin American countries like Mexico, the phrase Los quiero un montón a todos is used, where un montón means "a whole lot."
How does it change in a sentence?
If the group being addressed consists entirely of females, the masculine los and todos change to the feminine las and todas.
How do you pronounce it?
/los kjeɾo a todos/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use the singular te instead of the plural los when addressing a group. Avoid saying te quiero a todos.
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, saying 'I love you' to a group of friends or family is much more common and frequent than it is in English-speaking cultures, where it can sometimes feel overly sentimental.
- While los quiero a todos is common, some speakers use os quiero a todos in Spain. This uses the pronoun os specifically for a group of people the speaker is familiar with, a form rarely heard in the Americas.
- The word los comes from the Latin illōs, which originally meant 'those' or 'them'. Over centuries, it evolved from a demonstrative pronoun into the direct object pronoun used in 'los quiero a todos'.
Examples in context
- ¡Los quiero mucho a todos! Sin ustedes, mi vida no sería igualI love you all very much! Without you, my life wouldn't be the same
- Gracias por venir, los quiero a todos.Thanks for coming, I love you all.
- Son una gran familia, los quiero a todos.You are a great family, I love you all.
Example conversation
Sofía is giving a toast to her friends at a party.
- SofíaGracias por celebrar conmigo.Thanks for celebrating with me.
- Alejandro¡De nada, Sofía!You're welcome, Sofía!
- SofíaLos quiero a todos.I love you all.
- Alejandro¡Nosotros también te queremos!We love you too!
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries a, los, CC BY-SA 4.0.
